LetYourSpiritGrow.com Blog

All opinions and advice presented are those of the individual author(s)and do not necessarily present the views of LetYourSpiritGrow.comNone of the links below are affiliate links

No longer are we limiting the older generation in their golden years. There is a positive shift going on, where society at large sees aging as a phase of life rather than a disadvantage. Make sure you are staying vital and healthy to enjoy your autumn years by following my tips.

Living situation

Our living situation can have a huge effect on how we feel and act. If living alone has become too problematic why not consider a care home? To find a good care home that is suitable for you, you will need to shop around. Care homes that offer separate apartment style living and medical care are a good compromise. They give you the balance between necessity and comfort.

Spirit

Our older years can be a very spiritual time. We often consider the meaning of life and what lies beyond the void as well as reviewing what we have done during on time on the earth. As we get older, we also have a bit more time for ourselves. Use this to go to get more involved with your place of worship, or seek out some spiritual coaching to help help you with this life phase. Why not try meditation to still your mind or yoga or tai chi for a physical and spiritual aspect.

Mind

Keeping our minds active during retirement is essential to our wellbeing. Don't feel limited to brain games, book clubs or sudoku just because you are over 60. Why not keep a blog of your life or on an issue that is important to you. You can also get involved with your favorite charity and fund raise for them or write that novel you've always dreamed of. Another option is to pick an academic topic to research. Always been interested in British History? Now you have the time, why not read up on it and discuss it on dedicated internet forums. With access to the web, you can always find like-minded people to have a lively discussion with on any subject of your choice.

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Body

Having a healthy body is essential to enjoying your older years. Many people find that they need to make small adjustments to their diet as they get older. Whether it's for weight maintenance, to help alleviate arthritis or to solve issues like indigestion you need to listen to your body. If your body is reacting badly to a particular food, then try to limit it in your diet. You might try a supplement too. Fish oil is both good for the brain, and for joint function so is a good all-around choice for those over 60.

It is important to stay active into your twilight years, as they say if you don't use it you will lose it. Make sure you get out for a walk once a day or practice an active hobby such as dance or golf.

THIS POST HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTED BY ALEX CARTERAll opinions and advice presented are those of the individual author(s)and do not necessarily present the views of LetYourSpiritGrow.comNone of the links below are affiliate links.

Your immune system is your best defense against illness and disease. People rarely think about it, though. They only give it a thought when they catch minor illness, such as a cold. Once that’s gone, they go back to not paying much attention. People usually think the immune system stops needing attention once you’re past childhood. Once you’ve grown up, your immune system is just at a fixed level and can only ever drop from that.

But the fact is that your immune system is something you need to look after. The way you live your life can either strengthen it or do permanent damage to it. Preferably, you’ll be putting focus into the former option!Here are the things you can do to give your immune system a boost.

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Stop smoking

Smoking damages pretty much every part of your biological defence systems. It destroys the tiny parts of your nostrils and lungs that help fight pathological bacteria. That means you put yourself at more risk of colds, pneumonia and other respiratory infections. It’s even been linked to ear infections. There are, of course, a million other reasons that you should stop smoking. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you though, right?

Get some sunSunlight doesn’t actually contain vitamin D. What actually happens is that those rays trigger your skin’s production of the stuff! There are, of course, other ways to get vitamin D. But when the sun is out, you should consider going out for a brisk walk in order to get some exercise, too. Staying inside all day when the weather is nice is pretty hazardous to your health in other ways, anyway!

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Don’t rely on vitamin and mineral supplements

Vitamin and mineral supplements seem like a blessing for many people. The problem is that people use them instead of getting those vitamins and minerals from natural, nutritious sources. These supplements are best used by people who find it very hard to get those things otherwise. If you don’t suffer from any kind of natural deficit of this kind, then you should be getting your vitamins and minerals from healthy foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds - eat more of them!Drink green teaEvery new article about the benefits of green tea works to convince me that it’s some kind of magical beverage. Of course, some people do go overboard with it. It’s not a magical cure for cancer, nor is it going to prevent you from ever getting ill. But a cup of refreshing & aromatic green tea will help build antibacterial defences in your body. Consider replacing one or two of your daily cups of coffee with a green tea!

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Sleep more

People don’t usually think of sleep deprivation as having any effects other than making you tired. But sleep is pretty much the best thing for your body there is. Yes, I know that when you’re sleeping you can’t do anything else. I too have resentment for the fact that a good sleep takes so much time. But your body is hard at work when you’re asleep. It recovers from the day’s stresses and keeps your immune system strong.

GUEST POST BY ANONYMOUSAll opinions and advice are the authors ownNo products or services mentioned are endorsed by or affiliated with LetYourSpiritGrow.com

When you have a family, there is rarely a moment of boredom! There is always something to do, someone to talk to or help with homework. And the chaos can continue at work. We’re all working longer hours in the office these days. Close deadlines and bigger targets mean we have to stay back late, start early, and even catch up from home. Juggling all this and managing your household means you rarely get a moment to yourself.

The trouble is, there is so much to do that you may even struggle to find quality time to spend with your family. While it can feel nice to be wanted and in demand, there is a fine balance between feeling needed and feeling pressured or stressed. The work-life balance is very difficult to achieve these days. And if you feel pressured in one area of your life, chances are you’re not getting enough time in others.

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To help balance you out, there are a few clever hacks you can try. Most of us would love more quality time with the family. We want to spend time with our children having fun, not just pushing them to do their homework. To gain extra time here, you need to take it from the other activities in your life. That could mean working more efficiently, or even giving up some of the time-consuming things that you have in your life.

One of those time-consuming activities is the housework. If you’re doing it, you’ve got not time with the kids. And if you delegate it to one of them, you’re still not achieving the quality time with them you’re looking for. Why not hire house cleaners to take care of those tasks you hate to do? It could free up several hours over the course of a week. And isn’t it lovely to come home to a sparkling clean house?

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Preparing a healthy and hearty meal each evening can become a cause for indigestion when you’re missing out on that time with the family. You can easily half the amount of time you’re slogging away in the kitchen by batch cooking. This means you prepare enough of a meal for two portions each. Freeze the leftovers to have another day when you don’t feel like cooking. It will also save on your gas or electric bills because you can microwave to reheat the extra portions. Best of all, you don’t need to wash up any pots that night!

Handy appliances can take the strain and hassle out of everyday household chores. Robot vacuums, dishwashers, and tumble dryers take on the jobs we love to hate. But best of all, they’re busy working while we’re sat relaxing and having fun with the children. They are certainly worth the investment. After all, you can’t put a price on spending time with your kids!Have you asked your boss about working at home? If you can work from home for a day or two each week, you could save yourself hours on the commute. And it will also save you cash from the fuel or train tickets. Best of all, it means you’re home when the kids get in from school to give them a big hug. And you could even walk them to school for a few minutes of extra time together. You don’t have to dress up for working at home. Does that save you a few minutes in the morning?

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Of course, if you’re looking for lots of extra time with the kids when they’re small, you might consider reducing your hours at work to part time. This gives you much more time at home that you can spend with the little ones. It will also save you a lot of cash on the childminder fees. It’s important to consider where this may leave you financially. Sometimes you can be better off working part time because of the savings on the commute and childcare. Use a spreadsheet to work it out carefully.

Hobbies and interests are important. We all need some ‘me’ time. But if yours eats into the time you could be spending time with the kids, it can reduce the enjoyment you gain from it. If you have a partner at home, you may be able to take some evening classes while the kids are in bed. Or maybe you can get up early for that extra workout. Quality time with the kids feels a lot better when you’re not considering the other things you could be doing right now.Do your kids have lots of hobbies and interests? Extra curricular activities are so important for little ones as they’re growing up. But it means they’re busy doing things with other people instead of you. Maybe you could all join a club together, so you are all doing the same things together? Why not start a fitness program at home you could all do? A little walk around the estate, or a jog through the park can be fun for you all. Why not a game of football on the field, or even bouncing on the trampoline in the garden?

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Once you’ve figured out how to make the extra time, choosing how you will spend it can be another challenge. The kids might have a lot to say about what they want to do with their time. You won’t always fit in with that. But it’s a really good idea to have plenty of great family activities ready to go when the mood suits them. It might just be a movie night on the couch with a tub of popcorn. Or maybe a meal out at their favourite restaurant.

You can also consider things like crafting or playing musical instruments together. Taking a bike ride, or chasing each other through the park could be another activity for you all to enjoy together. Make a list of all the things you each love. Then put a couple in a hat for the kids to pick out. This will keep the variety and interest in your quality time together. And it will feel like you’re all making an effort to be with each other. Have fun.

GUEST POST BY ANONYMOUSAll opinions and advice are the authors ownNo products or services mentioned are endorsed by or affiliated with LetYourSpiritGrow.com

Most of us experience anxiety from time to time. If you’ve got an exam looming, you’re preparing for an interview or you’re sat in a hospital waiting room, it’s normal to feel anxious. If anxiety is taking over all your life and you can’t go a day without feeling on edge, this is not normal. If anxiety is keeping you awake at night, here are some remedies, which may help.

Get some sleep

This sounds like a really obvious suggestion, but if you don’t sleep, it will only make anxiety and stress more profound. If you can’t sleep because you’re anxious all the time, it;s time to take action. Before you consider seeing a doctor, think about your sleep regime and your sleeping environment. Do you take time out before you go to bed? Are you going up to bed too late? Do you drink sugary or caffeinated drinks late at night? Are you woken by noise outside or light streaming through your windows? Are you checking emails or browsing social media sites when you could be resting? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, making simple changes may be beneficial. Set a time to go to bed every night. Take half an hour or so to relax before you hit the hay. Put some relaxing music on and have a bath or read a book. Make sure that your room is quiet and dark. Leave work at the office and make your bedroom a gadget-free haven. If you’re still struggling to sleep, ask your doctor for advice.

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Exercise

Often, when you feel anxious, you can’t think about anything else but the trigger. This is where exercising comes in handy. It focuses your mind and gives you a welcome distraction. It’s also proven to reduce stress and relieve tension. Exercising can also help you to sleep. Any form of exercise has its benefits, but if you’re feeling stressed, yoga and Pilates are particularly helpful.

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Take time outIf you feel like things are getting on top of you, take a little time out. Breathe deeply, have a walk in the fresh air or meditate for five minutes. Talk to somebody you trust or put some music on and just close your eyes. Sometimes, having a break is all you need to recharge your batteries and refocus your mind.

There are lots of therapies out there, which may help you to cope with anxiety. Some people find them very effective while others prefer more conventional treatments. Examples include aromatherapy, massage and crystal healing. Black Obsidian, for example, is believed to ease anxiety. You can find more information at http://accessgems.com/stones/. You may also wish to try meditation, reflexology or acupuncture.